ACF branch 'concerned'

The Central Coast branch of the Australian Conservation Foundation has expressed surprise and concern at Gosford Council's decision to allow development on rare bushland in Woy Woy.

ACF Central Coast branch president Mr Mark Snell said that in making their decision councillors acknowledged the groundswell of community feeling against the proposal.

"However, several councillors said they could only act on the information that had been provided by staff.

"They said they had to act on this advice and their hands were tied.

"To reject the application, they would have had to refute their own staff as well as advice from the Department of Environment and Conservation - and be prepared to argue an appeal without their support.

"They believed there was little chance of success in a court action."

Mr Snell said that, despite this, the rarity of the bushland justified the rejection of the application.

He said only about 11 hectares remained in the world.

Mr Snell said the concurrence of the department to the development remained unexplained.

He said the department's report to Council contradicted a range of previously published statement's by the department, and its assertions were unsubstantiated.

Mr Snell said that the ACF branch had concerns about the implications of the report for protection of other endangered species and ecological communities in the region.

Media release, May 11 Mark Snell, ACF Central Coast